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July 4th commemorates the birth of our nation. It's the day, way back in 1776, when representatives of 13 British colonies in America declared they were going to break their allegiance to the British monarchy.
As you may know, under a monarchy, the land as well as the lives of the people, are the property of the King or Queen. So, by definition, people living in a monarchy are not citizens but instead “subjects”, chattel property, aka slaves.
Our history books teach that since 1776, July 4th has become a symbol of our freedom. Yet, are we actually...free?
Well, let’s look at the numbers. See the graphs below.
As you may know, under a monarchy, the land as well as the lives of the people, are the property of the King or Queen. So, by definition, people living in a monarchy are not citizens but instead “subjects”, chattel property, aka slaves.
Our history books teach that since 1776, July 4th has become a symbol of our freedom. Yet, are we actually...free?
Well, let’s look at the numbers. See the graphs below.
This is what they tell us:
- Some researchers say that the top 1% own the vast majority of the wealth, from 50%-80%+
- The cost of living is so high
in many states that most of us --- the 99%-- are largely in debt and can barely afford to enjoy our lives.
- Given the expense of housing, education, and other living essentials, most have to work long hours.
- Our work schedules deprive our children and family of the time they need to realize their full potential.
- Since we cannot invest in our children, they experience difficulties that set them back and continue a cycle of debt and servitude.
- While African Americans are at the lower scale of this economic system, its clear that people of all races share in this servitude or what I’ve called the “American Caste system.
These statistics were reported even before the COVID pandemic caused 27 million people to lose their income. And while unemployment has broken records, COVID has caused the fortunes of the 1% to soar!
- COVID-19 gifted U.S. billionaires as much as $434 billion during the nation’s lockdown between mid-March and mid-May.
- Leading the list of COVID-19 bonuses were Amazon’s Jeff Bezos and Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg.
- Bezos added $34.6 billion to his wealth and Zuckerberg picked up $25 billion.
So what can we do?
If you believe in capitalism, then you have a few options to negotiate with the 1% for a fairer share of the wealth we are creating. This includes:
Or we can work to scrap our current system of neo-liberal capitalism all together. In its place, we could build a new system built on a moral, righteous code. A system in which the wealthy and working classes live side by side in the collective service to our common Creator and to each other.
While I prefer the latter approach personally, the achievement of either would be cause of celebration.
And so what is there to celebrate, in the meantime?
Well, how about we take a page from our nation’s “Founding Fathers” and make our own declarations. Let’s declare our independence from the current system that keeps the vast majority of workers and small business owners divided and economically enslaved.
Such a declaration, followed by the work to bring about real change or a new system altogether, are certainly causes for us all to celebrate.
If you believe in capitalism, then you have a few options to negotiate with the 1% for a fairer share of the wealth we are creating. This includes:
- Strengthening unions
- Increasing political participation by all citizens
- Guaranteeing a basic standard of living for all including free quality housing, food, child care, education,and health care
- Dismantling the courts, prosecutors, and jails --- the entire justice system--- and rebuilding it in a manner that respects all people no matter their race, ethnicity, or economic status.
Or we can work to scrap our current system of neo-liberal capitalism all together. In its place, we could build a new system built on a moral, righteous code. A system in which the wealthy and working classes live side by side in the collective service to our common Creator and to each other.
While I prefer the latter approach personally, the achievement of either would be cause of celebration.
And so what is there to celebrate, in the meantime?
Well, how about we take a page from our nation’s “Founding Fathers” and make our own declarations. Let’s declare our independence from the current system that keeps the vast majority of workers and small business owners divided and economically enslaved.
Such a declaration, followed by the work to bring about real change or a new system altogether, are certainly causes for us all to celebrate.